A few weeks back, a tent meeting was conducted in Kingston, with great focus on miraculous healings. Let me preface this article by saying I fully believe in Jesus power to heal the infirmed. If we ask the Lord to heal our infirmities, and it is in accord with His will, He will do so (1 John 5:14-15; James 5:13-18). This does not mean that every disease and trouble will be lifted. Recall that the apostle Paul prayed three times to have a grievous "thorn in the flesh" removed, and the Lord said 'No' (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). The Lord is the Great Physician, but it may often be His will that we "...take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake....", that Christ's power may be exposed through our own weaknesses. The simple fact is that God's primary concern is healing man's soul from the dreadful disease of sin, not curing the myriad of temporal illnesses and ailments we experience.

Miraculous healing was never intended to be used in the manner that todays "faith healers" proclaim. It is common to hear statements such as, "...Jesus doesn't want you to be sick! He will heal you from every disease..." We are told that "...God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them." (Acts 19:11-12). This same Paul wrote, to Timothy, "No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities." (1 Timothy 5:23). If Jesus wants every disease we suffer to be taken away, why didn't Paul know it? Rather than heal Timothy of his infirmities, Paul instructed him to use wine for medicinal purposes.

The activities and display of "healing" which took place not many days ago in Kingston, and which take place often in many places are not genuine. These "faith healers" who claim to be 'working the works of God' would be better called "fake healers". While at the Saturday evening service of the recent tent meeting, I was intrigued and astonished at the many things which make for an authentic fake healing service. An honest look at the process of a "healing" service, or any "charismatic" service for that matter, reveals plenty of psychological manipulation, and stirring of adrenalin. Before the speaker/healer took the stage, we were entertained and induced (or shall I say seduced) with approximately an hour of "cheer-bringing" and "soul-moving" music. Music is a powerful tool, wielding universal appeal. The crowd became both numb and excited at the same time. The speaker took the stage, the music continuing to entice softly in the background.

I have long been in the habit of taking notes when a man preaches or teaches, regardless of his religious affiliation. I took no notes this night, for there was nothing of substance to take notes on. The speaker supposedly made reference to two Bible passages. The first was a non-existent text in the Corinthian letters; the second, a severe misapplication of Philippians 1:6. More noticeable and prominent than his Bible knowledge (or lack thereof) was a series of 'catch phrases' which he continually repeated, each time with more passion. "Amen....am-ennn...aaaaa-men..." "Praise God...praise Godd...pa-raise God..." "...Hallelujah...haaa-llelujah....haa-leluuu-jahhhh..." And so on and so forth.

Next we were treated to the testimonies of people who had been 'healed' in past nights of the meeting. There were people 'healed' of severe headaches, of addictions, of back pains, of low self-esteem. We were told of a woman who was brought into the tent the previous night by her dog, so she could be healed of Hepatitis C. The wandering canine was praised as a 'smart' dog. There was a report of someone being healed of AIDS. However, two people in particular stood out in my mind. One woman came forth with a testimony that she had received a partial healing of back pain the night before, and that she was back for the rest. Her statement, "...I didn't want to tax the Lord with it all in one night..." The other, a woman who suffers from degenerative back trouble, had been present the night before with a walker. She struggled to walk to the front, obviously in a great deal of pain; but the absence of the walker was proclaimed a miracle.

Before any miracles could be performed that night, a video presentation of the preacher's miracle crusade in Whitehorse, Yukon was shown. Healings of the blind, deaf, addicted, more deaf, suicidal, more deaf, heart diseased, more deaf, back pained, more deaf... The video continued, but having heard and seen more than enough of this unholy display of falsehood, my companions and I departed from the meeting.

There is a clear difference between the working of miracles performed by Jesus and the apostles, and today's miracle workers. In the first century, people lame from birth rose up and walked, lepers were made whole, paralized people walked, withered hands were made new, severed ears were restored, dead people were raised, etc.. Furthermore, Jesus' miracles were not partial, they did not require a return visit to finish the job, they were not temporary fixes. The healing was immediate and evident.

Today's miracle workers fail miserably. Has God's Spirit lost it's power? Certainly not. The problem is not with the Spirit of God, but with the healers who do not know God, nor the power of His Spirit. I have often wondered why present day miracle workers screen those who come forward. What are they afraid of? Jesus didn't screen those who came to Him, He healed their diseases and ailments, whatever they were. Likewise, I find it curious that today's "faith healers" do not raise people from the dead, restore deformed or missing limbs, etc.. Their work seems restricted to the unseen, inward diseases; which make their claims unverifiable or subjective. What better demonstration of God's power could a miracle worker do, and how better to draw the masses to the Lord, than to heal Christopher Reeve of his paralysis? Let that stand as a challenge to any miracle worker who comes across this article.

At the tent meeting a few Saturdays ago, two people with whom I am acquainted were present, one in the front row, the other a few rows back. One is a young woman who is deaf. His video presentation showed multitudes of deaf people having their hearing restored. This man claims to have an anointing from God to perform miracles. He says that Jesus wants us to be healed of all that ails us. Why then is this young lady still deaf? The other, a young man who has Cerebral Palsy. Same question; if a worker of miracles was present in the city of Kingston for the duration of the tent meetings, why does this young man still have Cerebral Palsy?

The focus of those who support the charismatic movement is off the mark. Hear the words of Jesus, "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’" (Matthew 7:21-23). The nature of our service and worship before God is not left to us to develop and determine. Those who will be saved establish all they do and say upon God's word. Simply calling on the name of the Lord, and placing His name upon the many facets of man-made religion does not secure His approval. Notice, of those who come to Jesus in the text, they referenced their astonishing deeds; prophecies, casting out demons, and many wonders. They completely missed the boat. The Lord demands our obedience to the gospel, not a "fake" healing show. Beware, "...lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:3). If one has not the love of the truth, and is not a diligent searcher of the Scriptures, God will allow that one to be deluded and to believe a lie (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). Demand book, chapter and verse for what is preached and taught. Search God's word to know His will, and reject all that stands in opposition.

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The Bible says that man is to be holy (Leviticus 11:44, 19:2, 20:7), but the Bible also says that only God is holy (Revelation 15:4). Is there a contradiction?